"Why is He Different" is about a young boy in the 1st grade named Kyle, the story is told through the eyes of his best friend. Sometimes, despite Kyle's uniqueness, classmates play with him. But When his behavior veers toward the bizarre they shun him. As the tale progresses the best friend and the teacher helps them understand Kyle's special issues. By the end of the story, Kyle's classmates and readers alike will gain better insight about how to respond to children with developmental challenges such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified, Autism Spectrum)
Burp! Blap! Beep!
Burp! Blap! Beep!
That's what Kyle kept saying today during math class, and then during reading class, and then during science class. He kept it up until recess.
It was kind of funny at first, but then his noises started to bother everyone, especially me because I was sitting right beside him. As a matter of fact, I sit by Kyle all day long because we're in the first grade, and first graders stay in one classroom and have assigned seats. Our teacher Miss Riley calls us desk buddies.
I'm not mad at Kyle though. He's more than my desk buddy; he is a pretty special friend of mine. He's doesn't act exactly like the rest of the kids I know, but that's OK. What fun would be it if everyone acted the same way all of the time?
Excerpt
Burp! Blap! Beep!
Burp! Blap! Beep!
That's what Kyle kept saying today during math class, and then during reading class, and then during science class. He kept it up until recess.
It was kind of funny at first, but then his noises started to bother everyone, especially me because I was sitting right beside him. As a matter of fact, I sit by Kyle all day long because we're in the first grade, and first graders stay in one classroom and have assigned seats. Our teacher Miss Riley calls us desk buddies.
I'm not mad at Kyle though. He's more than my desk buddy; he is a pretty special friend of mine. He's doesn't act exactly like the rest of the kids I know, but that's OK. What fun would be it if everyone acted the same way all of the time?
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Reviews for "Why is He Different"
Reviewed by Judith Mammay
12/28/2006
We need more of this kind of book for our kids...kudos to you for writing it! My only concern was with the introduction, where it said that an adolescent boy was in the first grade. My first thought was why would ANYONE keep a boy going through puperty in first grade, no matter WHAT his disability was. I know this was more common many years ago, but thought it didn't happen anymore. I am sure that when I read the book, that I will find that Kyle is indeed only six or seven like the other first graders...
Judy Mammay
Author of "Knowing Joseph" and "It's Time" (also about children learning about autism and other disabilities.)
